Medway Council - Free Swimming for Under 16s in Medway

Medway’s under 16s will be able to swim for free from September as part of Medway Council’s phased reopening of its sports centres.

Medway Park, Strood Sports Centres and Hoo Sports Centres have been gradually reopened in line with the government’s easing of lockdown restrictions and to allow customers to exercise safely with new social distancing measures in place.

Children living in Medway who are under 16 and have a Free Swimming Card will be able to swim for free during allocated weekend sessions, starting on Saturday, 12th September.

All customers to the sports centres must book a session in advance by phoning the relevant sports centre, as part of the new measures to limit the number of visitors and enable customers to socially distance. Customers can book 3 days beforehand.

The sessions for under 16s are called ‘Family Swimming’ on the sports centre pool timetable. All children will need to be accompanied by an adult: one adult for every two children under five; one adult for every three children aged between five and eight; and one adult for every five children aged over eight. The price for an adult who is not a sports centre member is £6.10.

Over 60s can also access free swimming throughout the week and this is currently available across Medway Council’s sports centres, for those who have booked a session and have a free-swimming card.

From Monday, 7th September, our sports centres will be offering more gym and swim sessions, as well as fitness classes, as opening hours extend. The new 13-week term of swimming lessons also start for all swimming stages.

Cllr Howard Doe, Deputy Leader of Medway Council and Portfolio Holder for Community Services, said:

“I am pleased we are now able to resume our free swimming sessions for our younger residents as part of the council’s phased reopening of its sports centres. We have offered under 16s free swimming sessions for a number of years to help encourage Medway’s young people to take more exercise and give them another fun activity to do in Medway without any cost involved to them. We are committed to providing Medway’s children and young people with opportunities and have an ambition for Medway to become a Child-Friendly City. I hope Medway’s families continue to enjoy accessing Medway Council’s excellent sports facilities, as well as our award-winning parks and everything else the area has to offer our children and young people.”

Book a session at a Medway Council sports centre - Medway Park: 01634 336655; Strood Sports Centre: 01634 333933; Hoo Sports Centre: 01634 333958.

Become a member of Medway Council’s sports centres at: medway.gov.uk/sport

Medway Council

Surgery Patient Participation Group - Upchurch & Rainham

Dr Supriya Das & Dr Lakshmi Subbiah

The following items were discussed at last weeks PPG meeting:

Flu Vaccinations 2020

Arrangements are being made for the majority to be done at Maidstone Road Surgery this year because of Covid-19.

The first batches are expected to arrive on or around 1st September.

These will be for those people over 65 years old, diabetics asthma and other vulnerable/shielding patients.

Patients will be contacted and an appointment made. It is being planned to do 3 every 15 minutes.

Patients temperature will be taken on arrival.

There will be a separate in and out passageway to conform with social distancing.

Only in exceptional circumstances will vaccinations be carried out at Upchurch Surgery.

Those over 50 years will be done in the second phase depending on the number of vaccines received or directed by appointment to Boots Chemists.

Face Coverings

Face coverings are to be worn at all times when attending the Surgery for appointments with the Nurse/Doctor. This also applies to Healthy Living Centres and Hospitals in the area.

Patient Non Attendance

132 patients failed to keep appointments from January to March 2020.

However, since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, this has been reduced drastically (although no figures are available) because most patients are having either a telephone consultation, a 'FaceTime' or a 'Zoom' consultation meeting with either the Doctor or Nurse.

If you have any questions or suggestions on the local practice, please Email:

Jan Bunting - Secretary: janannbunting@outlook.com or 

Ray Kemsley - Chair: raykemsley@btinternet.com

Ray Kemsley

Chair - Surgery Patient Participation Group - Upchurch & Rainham

Holywell Kids Club

With the closure of Kids Days for Breakfast Club, After School Club and Holiday Club, Holywell Primary School has decided to take this role on as a school from the start of Term 1.

Our new provision will be called Holywell Kids Club and will be starting from Monday 7th September 2020.

This will mean the wrap-around care will be able to continue as previously and continue to support those families who require it.

We will of course still welcome children from other school settings for our After School Sessions and Holiday Clubs.

To book a place for your child at any of these sessions, please contact us via Email at: kclub@holywell.kent.sch.uk or telephone: 07706 002060.

We want to thank Kids Days and their staff for the many years of service they have provided for our children.

We are really excited about being able to offer this provision for our local community and look forward to working with you in the future.

Tracey Snellings

School Business Manager

Holywell Primary School

Visit our website at: www.holywell.kent.sch.uk

Upchurch Parish Council - September 2020 Monthly Meeting Agenda

Upchurch Parish Council will be holding the above meeting via Zoom on Thursday 3rd September 2020 at 7:30pm.

Virtual meetings are open to members of the public.

Anyone wishing to watch will need to contact the Clerk for the login details, they will also be allowed to raise questions or comments to Councillors during public time.

Wendy Licence - Clerk to the Parish Council
Tel: 01622 739324

Email: clerkupc@outlook.com

Website: www.upchurchpc.kentparishes.gov.uk

UPDATED: Upchurch Village Garage Sale

Upchurch Village Garage Sale

Saturday 29th August 2020
10am - 1pm

Roads taking part:

Church Farm
The top, middle & bottom of Chaffes Lane
Drakes Close
The top & middle of Oak Lane 
Crosier Court 
19 Forge Lane
Boxted Lane
And why not finish off at
School Cottage, Holywell Lane for
homemade cakes & scones

Around 20 homes are taking part
Please note some new deletions and additions

 elizabeth.shorthouse26@gmail.com

Elizabeth Shorthouse

Temporary Closure of Public Footpath ZR19, Upchurch

In The Borough of Swale

Kent County Council

(Public Footpath ZR19, Upchurch)

(Prohibition of All Traffic)

Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, Section 14(1), As Amended By The Road Traffic (Temporary Restrictions) Act 1991.

Public Footpath ZR19 will be closed from Monday the 31st of August 2020 for no more than 5 days.

The path is closed between Canterbury Lane and Woods Edge for a distance of 55 metres because works are being or are proposed to be executed on or near the footpath.

For detailed enquiries please contact Michael Ellis.

Contact Centre: 03000 417171

Kent County Council

Public Rights of Way and Access Service